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Rare Elgar work to be released

A NEW recording of music from Worcestershire's favourite son will be given an official launch next month.

Edward Elgar’s Music for Powick Asylum, which includes first recordings of Menuetto, A Singing Quadrille and Music for Oboe and String Trio, will be unveiled at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, on Thursday, March 6 at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

The event will be hosted by the museum along with the Elgar Society and SOMM Recordings, who release the collection on Monday, March 3, and the project has been supported financially by the Ernest Kay Trust, the Elgar Society and Elgar Works.

The recording features the Innovation Chamber Ensemble, which includes players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barry Collett.

Elgar was appointed bandmaster at the Worcester County and City Lunatic Asylum in Powick in January 1879 and his ensemble had its origins in a brass band, founded with instruments bought out of asylum funds.

His eccentric orchestra of piccolo, flute, clarinet, two cornets, euphonium and bombardon, up to eight violins, occasional viola, cello and double bass with piano, a maximum of 19 players.